Combined bale-tie buckle and identification-tag.



- H. P. GHILDRESS.

COMBINED BALE TIE BUCKLE AND IDENTIPIGATION TAG.

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1 1 21,799. Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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COMBINED BALE TIE BUCKLE AND IDENTIFIO'ATION TAG.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1913.

1,121,799, Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT HENDERSON P. CHILDRES S,

or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

COMBINED BALE-TIE BUCKLE AND IDENTIFICATION-TAG.

memes.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENDERSON P. CHIL- nnnss,a citizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county ofShelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful CombinedBale-Tie Buckle and Identification-Tag, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to improvements in combined bale tiebuckles and identification tags, and its object is to provide a buckleto which the band may be expeditiously applied without liability ofimproper union of the bale band and buckle, and without material loss ofcompression of the bale, and to provide an identification tag so unitedto the buckle that it cannot escape therefrom, and will, therefore,serve as a positive identification for the particular bale to which itis applied even in the event of the destruction of such a bale.

It is the custom-in the cotton baling in dustry to employ bale bands ofstrap iron, and the ends of these bands are returned upon themselves andare united by buckles. One type of buckle is made of wire bent into aloop with one end so constructed that the looped ends of the bale bandmay be applied thereto, the expansive force of the tightly compressedcottom bale serving to hold the buckle in a position preventing theescape of the band. As heretofore constructed such buckles have beenopen to the objection that they either pull open under the greatexpansive force of a tightly compressed cotton bale, or they are sorelated to the bands as to tend to tear the latter where engaging them.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a one-piecebuckle bent into loop form preferably approaching a square in generaloutline, and with the terminal portions each extending from a respectiveside toward the distant side of the loop and there terminating in areturn por tion constituting a hook, each side portion being offsetlaterally to overhang or house the adjacent hook end, and also beingshaped to direct an applied bale band in a manner that it cannot lodgeagainst the hooked end. With such a construction the looped end of thebale band may be introduced between the adjacent extremities of the loopwhich lie side by side and are slightly spaced to permit theintroduction of the looped end of a fiat bale band, the movement beingcon- Speoification of Letters Patent. Patenfied Dec 22 1914 Applicationfiled June 21, 1913.

Serial No. 775,114.

tinned until the looped end of the bale band is in embracing relation toone of the sides of the buckle, whereupon it may be returned to theentering end of the loop, and theact of returning it to such positioncauses the directing of the looped end of the bale band into embracingrelation to both of the oppositely directed extremities of the loop intointermediate relation to the hooked ends, this operation being performedby turning the buckle appropriately, while the opposing ends of the baleband are in substantial alinement. Now upon the release of thecompressed bale it tends to expand, and the expansive force so exertedtends to elongate the buckle, and this elongation causes an approach ofthe hooked ends which engage over the corresponding side edges of theterminal loop of the bale band, With such a structure no force directedlengthwise of the bale band which either the band or the buckle canwithstand without rupturing is sufficient to straighten out any portionof the buckle, while the open end of the buckle which is naturally theweakest point, cannot so yield as to permit the escape of the bale bandfrom the inwardly bent hooked ends.

It has heretofore been customary to place identification marks uponbales of cotton,

either by painting such marks upon the burlap covering of the bale orapplying identification tags, but with both of these methods the lossfrom the obliteration of the painted i marks or the malicious oraccidental-removal of the identification tags is very great. The presentinvention contemplates the avoidance of such loss by making theidentificationtag of a material, preferably metal,

which will withstand the destruction of the cotton by fire, and' alsowill withstand handling during shipment and which cannot by any, meansshort of the destruction of the tag result in. the loss or misplacing ofthe tag with reference to the particular bale to which it is attached.To bring this about the tag is so constructed and so related to the typeof buckle employed that it may be I readily threaded on to the buckle soas to remain on one side thereof between the two ends where the baleband is applied without possibility of loss either before or after theband is applied to the bale, and the tag is so constructed that it maybe threaded upon the buckle at the same time the buckle. is firstapplied to one end of the bale band, and before being placed inencircling relation to the bale. Furthermore, the I peculiarconstruction of the buckle with the offsets and curves providing for thefinal application of the bale band to the buckle prevents the escape ofthe tag after having been once threaded on the buckle, no matter to whatextent or how roughly the bale band may be handled in the intervalbetween the threading on of the tag and the application of the band tothe bale. Moreover, the improved tag may be so shaped that it may lieflat upon the bale in close hugging relation thereto, thus preventingany disturbance of the tag by the engagement of the bales with eachother or with anything else during shipment.

All these features will be best understood from aconsideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with thefurther understanding that while the drawings show a practical form ofthe invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity withthe showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified, so long assuch changes and modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a plan view of a bale tie buckle and tagas applied to a bale, andboth embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 isa fragmentary edge view on a somewhat exaggerated scale with the p artsin the position assumed when applied to a bale. Fig. 3 is a view similarto Fig. 2 but showing the position of the parts previous to theapplication of the bale band. Fig. a is a view similar to Fig. 1 butshowing a difi'erent type of buckle and tag. Fig. 5 is a section on theline 55 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7is a view of a buckle similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but showinganother form of tag. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig.9 is a view of a buckle similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but illustratinga diiferent type of tag. Figs. 10 and 11 are views illustratingtheanchoring action of the hook eX- tremities of the buckle. Fig. 12 is aface view of a modified form of tag.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a buckle 1 which may be madeof a single piece of wire or other suitable material, but throughout thespecification and claims the term wire will be used not only todesignate an elongated metallic strand with which the term iscustomarily associated, but any elongated strip suitable for thepurposes of the present invention.

The wire loop is so bent asto form an intermediate yoke portion 2, andside portions 3, which be in parallel relation as in Figs. 1, 7 and 8,or in approaching relation, as indicated at 3 in Fig. 4, and these sideportions are again bent to form extensions 1 which may be insubstantially or appr Ximately parallel relation to the yoke portion 2and each of a length to reach the corresponding portion of the distantside of the loop, and at the ends these extensions t are returned uponthemselves to form inwardly directed hooks 5. Each side portion 3 in wniediately adjacent to its junction with the corresponding extension tis laterally offset, as indicated at 6, and is also formed with aninwardly directed shoulder 7. In Fig. 1 and associated figures theshoulder 7 is formed by a relatively sharp bend of the side 3 toward theother side of the loop, while in Fig. t the same result is accomplishedby an outbending of the sides 3 of the loop as in dicated at 8. llhisoutbending in conjunction with the tapering of the sides 3 formsshoulders 7 having the same functions as the shoulders 7 of the formillustrated in Fig. 1.

The extremities of the hooks are beveled on one side as indicated at 9for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The two ends of a bale band are indicated at 10 and 11, respectively,and these ends are returned upon themselves as is customary to formterminal loops. Before the bale band is applied to a bale one of theterminal loops, say the end 11, has a buckle applied thereto by passingone of the extremities lthrough the loop, and then returning the buckleuntil the applied loop is in encircling relation to the yoke or closedend 2 of the buckle. Now, when the bale band has been applied to acompressed bale, the other loop end 10 of the band is applied to thebuckle by being passed over one extremity l of the buckle and the latteris then rotated until both loops 10 and 11 engage respectively oppositesides 3 of the buckle. The buckle is then rotatedin the oppositedirection until the last applied end of the bale band is brought intoencircling relation to both extensions l of the sides 3 and upon therelease of pressure upon the bale the expansion of the latter causes astrain to be put upon the buckle in the direction of the length of thesides of the buckle, thus tending to elongate it and thereby causing anapproach of the hooked ends 5 one toward the other until the extremitiesof these hooks are in overhanging relation to the sides of the baleband, and further approaching movement of the hooks is arrested.

Under normal conditions and before the buckle is applied to the baleband each hooked end 5 offstands a short distance from the correspondingoffset portion 6 leaving a space as shown at 12 in Fig. 3., for theintroduction of the bale band between the overlapping extensions 4c.When, however, the buckle is under stress due to the expansion of thebale, the extremities 4 are brought into side contact and are veryfirmly held, as shown in Fig. 2 with the bevel end 9 in close relationto the corresponding part of the offset portion 6 and the hooked endsare therefore guarded against liability of being caught by other; balesor anything with which they may come into contact. Because theextremities 4: are in separated relation to permit the readyintroduction of the bale band into the buckle there would be greatliability of the bale band, after being introduced into the buckle andreturned toward the open end of the buckle, to pass again between theextensions a or to lodge against the end of one of the hooks 5, andthereby so imperfectly engage the buckle as to cause the latter tospread as soon as the bale is relieved from the pressure of the press.Again, if it were not for the presence of the shoulders 7 or 7, as thecase may be, the return movement of the bale band loop from the side ofthe buckle toward the entering end thereof would be liable to cause anengagement of the band with the corresponding hook 5 and a carelessoperative would be liable to leave the buckle but partially turnedtoward its final position, and this would result in the pulling apart ofthe buckle and cause a loosening of the band.

The effect of the hooked ends 5 is more or less schematically indicatedin Figs. 10 and 11 although a buckle similar to the showing of thesefigures might be employed, but not with so great an advantage as that ofthe other figures. The structure illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 alsoindicates the feasibility of the employment of much lighter stock thanheretofore due to the employment of the hooked ends 5. The buckle 1 ofFigs. 10 and 11 is shown as approximately square in outline with theextremities at the entering ends returned upon themselves sufiicientlyto form hooks 5*. Now, on the application of the ends 10 and 11 of thebale band there is a tendency of the buckle, which may be of more orless rounded contour, to elongate, but this results in an approachingmovement of the hooks 5 until they engage over the offset edges of thecorresponding looped end of the band and even though the gage of thebuckle 1 be such that the entering end would readily pull out under theforce exerted thereon, such tendency is completely resisted by the hooks5 having approaching ends due to the inward curve thereof, forexperience has shown that the buckle will rupture before such inturnedhooks will straighten out.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a tag 18 having at one end an extended lip 14,the extension of the lip being in line with the longitudinal center lineof the body of the tag 13. About where the lip joins the body of the tagthe lip is struck up as indicated at 15 to form a loop, this beingfacilitated by producing two spaced slits 16 in parallel relation onewith the other. That end of the tag 13 remote from the tongue 14: isindented on opposite sides as shown at17, and between these indentationsthe body of the tag may be weakened by other indentations 18, or in anyother appropriate manner, so that there is a terminal portion 19 remotefrom the lip 1 1 which may be readily detached by tearing it off fromthe body of the tag even though the tag be made of sheet metal.

When the end 11 of the bale tie is applied to the buckle 1 the tag 13may likewise be applied by introducing one of the extensions 4: throughthe struck up loop 15 and moving the tag on to one of the sides 3, sothat the body of the tag offstands from the buckle in substantiallyperpendicular relation to the length of the bale band. N ow, by reasonof the shoulder 7 and offset portion 6 the tag cannot escape from thebuckle after having been once placed thereon, since even when roughlyhandled prior to the application of the bale band to the bale the tagwill not fol low the tortuous course which it must in order to escapefrom the buckle. When the buckle with the tag is applied to a bale andsecured thereto and the bale is released from the press the expansion ofthe bale causes the material thereof to press upon the tag both upon thebody portion and upon the lip 1-1 which are located on opposite sides ofthe side 3 of the buckle holding the tag, wherefore the tag is caused totightly hug the bale and may even become somewhat embedded therein sothat during transportation or during handling of the bale the tag iswholly protected from liability of snagging with anything, and hence itremains uninjured at all times.

It is customary to place a serial number upon the lip 14'. or upon thebody of the tag, and upon the detachable portion 19, which latter may beremoved at the time the cotton is baled. In addition to the serialnumber, the body of the tag presents a space for the name of the owner,or shipper, or buyer, together with the date and class mark, or anyother identifying characters. After the buckle is applied to the bale itis absolutely impossible for the tag to accidentally escape from thebale except under such circumstances as would prove destructible to thepainted upon the burlap covering of the cotton bale, the rubbingtogether of the bales or other causes frequently result in so great anobliteration of such marks that identification is impossible. All tagswhich have heretofore been employed for identification have beenprovided with attaching devices permitting the ready removal of the tageither maliciously or accidentally, so that great losses have occurredfrom such causes.

/Vith the present arrangement the tags become an absolutely permanentpart of the bale to be separated therefrom only by the breakage of thematerial of the tag or the bale band, and as the tags may be made socheaply as to permit the use of as many tags on a bale as there are balebands, the liability of loss is reduced to a negligible minimum, andeven in the case of the total destruction of the bale by fire the totalshipment may be readily identified.

lVhile the structure shown in Fig. 1 is a preferred form, the tags maybe otherwise constructed, as, for instance, they may be formed as shownin Figs. a and 5, where there is indicated a tag 20 of the same generalform as that shown in Fig. 1 with a lip 21 which may have side portions22 folded one toward the other and shaped to increase the thickness ofthe tongue with respect to the plane of the tag bodv 20 from the oint ofjunction of the tongue with the body of the tag toward the free endthereof, and this thickened portion 22 may have a general bevel,indicated at Formed through the side members 22 of the tongue 2-1 arematching perforations 2% designed to permit the tongue to be threadedupon the buckle and when the tag is in the same relation to the buckleas shown in Fig. 1' the engagement of the bale with the thick end of thelip 21 remote from the body of the tag 20 tends to force the body of thetag firmly against the bee y of the bale, so that it may become embeddedeven more deeply into the bale than in the form shown in Fig. 1. Tostrengthen the portions of the tongue 21 with the body of the tag 20,there may be a struck up rib 25 formed therein and extending into both.

Still another form of tag is illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, and in thisform there is shown a tag 26 having a tongue 27 intermediate of one longside, and this tongue is provided with a perforation E28 and is alsobent at an angle to the plane of the body of the tag so that it may bethreaded upon a buckle with the tag overlying the buckle, and because ofthe engagement of the lip :27 with the cotton the body of the tag isheld in firm hugging relation to the bale in a manner similar to thatdescribed with reference to the other forms.

Even so simple a form of tag as illustrated in Fig. 9 may be employed,in which case there is shown a tag 29 of simple plate form with anelongated opening 30 near one end, so that the tag may be threaded upona buckle in angular relation thereto, so as to be engaged by the underside of the buckle against the cotton bale and thereby forced intocontact with the body of the bale.

l l hile the tag 13 shown in Fig. 1 is inclicated as provided with atongue 14, such tongue may be omitted. A tag with such tongue omitted isshown at 31 in 12, and at an intermediate point in the body of the tagthere is a struck up loop 32 similar to the loop 15 of the ta 13 andthis may also be provided with. a removable portion 19 as in Fig. 1,which removable portion may constitute a part of any of the tags shownin the drawings. l i ith a structure such as shown in Fig. 12 the bucklemay overlie the tag the same as in the case of the tag 29 shown in Fig.9, and thus anchor the tag fiat against the bale with the whole pressureexerted thereagainst, but still not interfering with the clear readingof the tag. Since such a tag is pressed down int the bale by the fullforce exerted by the buckle it cannot be removed either accidentally ormaliciously.

No claim is made herein to the buckle per so, since claims directed tothe buckle are made in my application No. 805,992, iiled December 1.1,1913, for improvements in bale band buckles. in the said laterapplication not only are there disclosed the forms of buckle hereinshown, but other forms of buckle embodying the same general principlesof construction and operation are disclosed, and the various forms ofidentifica- 'tion tags herein disclosed may be employed with these formsof buckle shown in the said later application, but not herein disclosed,so that it will be understood that the present invention is of widescope with re spect to the structure of the tag and of the buckle.

ll hat is claimed is 1. A combined bale band buckle and identificationtag, comprising a buckle in the form of a loop having an entering end toreceive and be closed by one end of a bale band, and an elongated tagwith a passage therethrough by way of which the tag is threaded on toone side of the buckle through the entering end, whereby the tag is heldagainst the bale by the expansive force of the latter exerted on thebale band and buckle with the longitudinal axis of the tag substantiallyperpendicular to the length of the bale band.

2. A combined bale band buckle and identification tag, comprising abuckle in the form of a loop with an entering end to re ceive and beclosed by one end of a bale band, and a tag with a passage therethroughby which the tag is threaded on to one side of i the loop through theentering end of the latter, said buckle having means for holding the tagagainst accidental escape in the absence of a bale band.

3. A combined bale band buckle and identilication tag, comprising abuckle of loop form having a lapped entering end, and a metallic taghaving therethrough a passage with the walls integral throughout andthreaded by way of the passage on to one side of the buckle through theentering end of the latter, the passage through the tag being situatedto one side 01" the plane of the latter, whereby the tag, when thebuckle and tag are applied to a bale, is held by the bucklesubstantially flat against the halo.

l. A combined bale band buckle and identihcation tag, comprising abuckle and a tag having a passage therethrough to one side of the planeof the body or" the tag and threaded on to the buckle, said bucklehaving means to prevent accidental escape of the tag therefrom.

5. A combined bale band buckle and. identification tag comprising abuckle havin a lapped entering end, and a tag having a lip at one endwith a passage between the free end of the lip and the body 01" the tag,the buckle being threaded tl rough said passage.

6. A combined bale band buckle and ident fication tag, comprising abuckle or" loop form having a lapped entering end, and a substantiallyflat tag provided with alip projecting from one end thereof and having astruck-up loop adjacent to the junction of the lip with the body of thetag, the buckle being threaded through the loop so formed 7. Thecombination ith a bale band buck e, of an identification tag threadedthereon in onset relation thereto, whereby the tag is held against thebale by the pressure exerted on the tag by the buckle under theexpansive force of the bale.

8. A combined bale band buckle and identification tag comprising abuckle in the form of a loop, and a tag with a passage therethrough andthreaded by way of the passage on to one side of the buckle, said bucklebeing provided with a stop for holdng the tag against accidental escapefrom the buckle in the absence or" the bale band.

9. A combined bale band buckle and identification tag comprising abuckle of loop form, and a tag with a passage therethrough and threadedon to one side of the loop by means of the passage, said tag beingelongated and extending laterally of the buckle when applied to a balewith a part of the tag within the area defined by the buckle and a partexterior thereto, whereby the tag is held by said buckle sub stantiallyfiat against a compressed bale under the expansive force of the latter.

10. A combined bale band buckle and identification tag comprising abuckle having separable portions for the introduction of the bale bandinto the buckle and locked together by the applied bale band, and thetag having a passage therethrough for ap plication of the tag to thebuckle through the separable portions thereof, the tag and buckle havingcoacting parts whereby the tag is held substantially flat against acompressed bale by the expansive force of the bale exerted upon the tagthrough the buckle.

11. A combined bale band buckle and identification tag with the taghaving a passage therethrough for threading the upon one side of thebuckle, with a portion of the tag extended crosswise of the bucklewithin the area defined by the latter, whereby the tag is heldsubstantially flat against the bale to which the buckle and tag areapplied by the expansive force exerted by the bale upon the tag throughthe buckle;

12-. A combined bale band buckle and tag comprising a buckle havingparts movable toward and from each other, and a tag with a passageintermediate of its length for threading the tag on to the bucklethrough the movable parts thereof, the buckle being provided with stopmeans for the tag to prevent accidental escape of the latter from thebuckle after being threaded thereupon and prior to the final applicationof a bale band.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I h ave heretoafiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENDERSON P. CHILDRESS.

Witnesses J OHN l-l. Sreonns, E. Gr. Sresnns.

Eagles of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 30. C.

